UNF snaps 4 game losing streak

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The University of North Florida basketball team snapped a four-game skid with a hard-fought 71-65 road win Tuesday night at Bethune-Cookman.

Parker Smith led the way for UNF (2-4) with 22 points including six three-pointers and Travis Smith added 14 points and eight rebounds. Adrian Coleman posted a 21 point, 11 rebound performance to pace the Wildcats (2-5).

The Ospreys shot 51 percent from the floor in the game while also handing out 20 assists on 26 baskets. UNF also won the battle on the glass for the first time this season outrebouding BCU, 41-30.

"It feels great to get back into the win column," said UNF head coach . "I was proud of our guys perserverance and resiliancy tonight. We did a good job of getting shots from the outside early in the game and then scoring in the paint when Bethune made adjustments. We still need to do a better job of making good decisions, especially in relation to shot selection."

North Florida raced out to a quick 10-3 lead thru the first five minutes of the game. The Ospreys then outscored the Wildcats 14-1 over a four minute span building a 24-10 advantage with 9:05 left in the opening period. UNF maintained a double-digit lead until closing the half with a cold spell.

BCU scored the final eight points of the stanza to close the halftime margin to 32-26. The Ospreys went scoreless over the final 3:45 in the period missing three shots and committing three turnovers.

The Ospreys built their lead back to double digits early in the second half as Wallace  scored in the middle and Smith connected on back-to-back treys putting UNF up 41-29.

North Florida kept a comfortable lead over the Wildcats for much of the closing half building as large as a 17-point advantage, 66-49, with 3:47 left in the game. Bethune scored a couple of late three-pointers to close the gap but never really threatened the Ospreys down the stretch.

UNF makes a quick turnaround returning to action Thursday against Florida A&M at 7 p.m. in UNF Arena. The game marks the Ospreys lone home contest in a stretch of 12 games.